In-form Evans putting club before country after snub from Borthwick

WILL EVANS believes he is in the form of his life, but the Harlequins turnover king has not had any contact from England on a possible call-up.

Openside flanker Evans revealed choosing quality over quantity on his attempts at stealing ball at breakdowns has elevated his game to new heights.

The 27-year-old has returned from the Gallagher Premiership’s break for the Six Nations as one of the form players in England, certainly in the back-row.

Steve Borthwick has visited all the Premiership clubs to stay in touch with the players in his plans, but Evans admitted the England boss did not make any contact.

The uncapped Evans was overlooked for the England A team’s 91-5 victory over Portugal at Leicester in February, too, but his consistent form has led to frequent pundit calls for a Test opportunity.

Refusing to dwell on his England situation though, Evans insists he has developed the strength of mind to stay focused on his burgeoning Quins career.

“I haven’t heard anything from England,” Evans (below) told Standard Sport. “So I’ll just continue to play for Quins, and not think about it.

“If you’d asked me four years ago for my reaction to something like that I would have told you a completely different thing, but now it’s not on my mind.

“It doesn’t make me upset, it doesn’t make me frustrated: it just makes me more excited to play for Quins.” Evans’ ball-stealing abilities have come to the fore in Quins’ three wins on the spin, culminating in last weekend’s stunning 42-41 Investec Champions Cup quarter-final win in Bordeaux.

Quins will face Sale on the road on Sunday still firmly in the hunt for the Premiership play-offs in a battle that will go right to the wire. “I feel like the last four games I’ve played is probably the best rugby I’ve managed to put together potentially in my whole career,” said Evans.

“I had a sit-down with [Quins coaches] Danny Wilson and Jordan Turner-Hall, and I feel like I’ve listened to that advice.

“I was potentially dipping in at too many breakdowns. I’ve tried to limit the amount of times I’m going in and that’s put me in good stead.”